When the New York Knicks signed Julius Randle as a free agent three years ago, it was seen as a moderate victory for the long-suffering franchise.
New York had missed out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving that summer, as both decided to head to the borough of Brooklyn instead, and getting Randle wasn’t a bad consolation prize.
In 2021, he made his first All-Star team by averaging 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game while leading the Knicks to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and an unexpected playoff berth.
But this past season, his production declined, and so did his team.
The Knicks are back in the familiar position of needing to retool in order to get back to the postseason, and the hot rumor is that they’re after Utah Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.
"The Knicks and the Jazz will reengage here at some point… The Jazz are not gonna necessarily move quickly… New York is motivated to get Donovan Mitchell but I think they're also motivated to not just give up everything to get him."
🗣️ @wojespn pic.twitter.com/WCkOJwvcz6
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 18, 2022
If the Knicks land Mitchell, Randle could go out to make the deal work.
Whether they get Mitchell or not, it looks like it’s time for the Knicks to move on from Randle.
Randle’s 2021 Season May Have Been A Fluke
During Randle’s All-Star season, he shot an outstanding 41.1 percent from 3-point range, but this past season, that figure dropped to just 30.8 percent.
For his career, he has shot 33.2 percent from beyond the arc, and other than 2021, he has had only one other season in which he has hit more than 31 percent of his treys.
Therefore, it appears that what he did in 2021 was an anomaly that may not be duplicatable.
Randle has done an admirable job of developing his off-the-dribble game, to the point where head coach Tom Thibodeau has used him as a primary ball-handler and initiator.
But the 6-foot-8 big man’s efficiency has been a problem.
In fact, his overall efficiency has dropped like a rock thrown off the George Washington Bridge.
During the 2017-18 season, Randle shot an excellent 55.8 percent from the field, but that mark has dropped each season since, and it cannot only be attributed to his increased 3-point attempts.
During that same span, his 2-point shooting percentage has also fallen each year, from a high of 57.5 percent in 2018 to 45.8 percent in 2022.
The Curious Case Of Julius Randle
Last year's Most Improved Player was one of this year's most disappointing shooters.
Out of 68 players that attempted at least 500 jumpers this season, Randle ranked last in efficiency with eFG% of just 40.95 pic.twitter.com/vV9jaXbUxt
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) April 16, 2022
A big man with the talent and skills that Randle possesses should be making much more than 45.8 percent of his 2-point shots.
Will Randle Justify His Contract?
The Kentucky product is signed for four more seasons, and he will be making between $23.76 million to $29.46 million a season.
That’s the kind of money a team should be paying to a player who makes the All-Star team at least semi-regularly.
Unless Randle seriously improves his efficiency from here on out, that is simply too much money for him.
After committing $104 million over four years to Jalen Brunson, not to mention at least $18 million a year to Evan Fournier, it seems like it’s time for the Knicks to get their finances in order.
Over the years, they have often had one of the NBA’s highest payrolls, but they’ve had little to show for it.
If the Knicks are serious about recapturing their glory from the early 1970s or 1990s, they will need to start by trimming their payroll and not giving bloated contracts to non-All-Stars.
Since Randle is currently their best player, it will likely start with him.
NEXT: Knicks Analyst Shares An Intriguing Starting 5